TORONTO, April 16, 2019
Mr. Gary Anandasangaree, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Canadian Heritage and Multiculturalism (Multiculturalism), announced more than $1 million in funding for the Canadian Museums Association (CMA) to help respond to Call to Action 67 of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada. This funding will support and advance reconciliation efforts and promote collaboration in the preservation of Indigenous culture. Mr. Anandasangaree made the announcement at the Canadian Museums Association's annual meeting in Toronto on behalf of the Honourable Pablo Rodriguez, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Multiculturalism.
Funding is being provided through the Museums Assistance Program (MAP) which supports Canadian museums, heritage institutions and cultural professionals in the preservation and presentation of heritage collections. As curators and protectors of culture and history, museums play an essential role in promoting and showcasing our stories.
Financial support will be allotted for two initiatives to be led by the CMA. The CMA Reconciliation Project will receive $680,948 to support a national review of museum policies, in collaboration with Indigenous peoples, which will look the best ways to determine their level of compliance with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and to make recommendations. The CMA will receive $351,508 to lead the professional development and sharing of best practices across Canada. These activities will include workshops, online learning modules, a national museum-worker bursary program, Muse Magazine, online bi-weekly newsletters, and museology reports.
"The Canadian Museums Association has an important role to play in the reconciliation process with Indigenous Peoples in Canada. Cultural spaces, like our museums and other heritage institutions play a fundamental role in bringing our communities together by enriching our understanding of our shared history."
-The Honourable Pablo Rodriguez, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Multiculturalism
Quick facts
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Canadian Heritage's Museums Assistance Program is focused on the preservation of Indigenous cultures and support better access to heritage collections for all Canadians. It also promotes professional knowledge, skills and practices for key museum functions.
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The program provides funding to Canadian museums and other heritage institutions through four separate components: Access to Heritage (Exhibition Circulation Fund), Indigenous Heritage, Collections Management and Canada-France Agreement.
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The Canadian Museums Association is the national organization for the advancement of Canada's museum community. The CMA works for the recognition, growth and stability of the museum sector. Canada's 2,600 museums and related institutions preserve our collective memory, shape our national identity and promote inclusion and understanding.
